After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium - Chapter 38

Bian You felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, but fortunately, she had spent enough time mentally preparing herself especially after the cold war that ensued when she once threw a tantrum upon realizing Qi Zhie had no feelings for her.

She didn’t want to create any more rifts between them because of such emotions.

Besides, compared to the past, things were much better now. Qi Zhie might not love her as deeply, but there was still affection there.

Thinking about how Qi Zhie had been buried in work lately, barely resting due to company matters, and now that the website had stabilized, Bian You felt it might be a good time to take her out for some relaxation.

But before she could speak, Qi Zhie suddenly asked, “Do you have any history with Miss Ren?”

The words on Bian You’s lips stalled. She swallowed them down and shook her head. “I don’t know her, and I’m not sure if the ‘old’ Bian You did either.”

Ren Shuliu’s attitude toward both of them had been too pointed, making it hard to decipher.

“Do you know her?” Bian You asked cautiously, sensing something odd about Qi Zhi’e’s reaction to Ren Shuliu.

Qi Zhie fell silent for a moment before replying, “No connection.”

Meaning she knew of her, but nothing beyond that perhaps they had never even exchanged a word before.

Bian You frowned slightly. “Then how does she know about us?”

Qi Zhie shook her head. That was what puzzled her too.

Bian You pressed her lips together, her gaze cooling. “I’ll have someone look into it.”

She couldn’t help but suspect did Ren Shuliu know something about the plot?

“Mm.” Qi Zhie responded indifferently. But seeing Bian You’s visibly subdued and gloomy expression compared to earlier, she softened her tone and leaned in, wrapping her arm around Bian You’s and resting her head on her shoulder. “Are you still mad at me?”

She wasn’t a fool. During the auction, when she had said she’d bid for what she liked herself, Bian You’s mood had clearly shifted. Back then, Qi Zhie simply hadn’t cared enough to address it.

“I—”

The moment Qi Zhie leaned against her, Bian You’s brain short-circuited. Her face burned, and her eyes darted around, unsure where to look.

Thankfully, she had lowered the partition in the car earlier otherwise, the driver would have seen her completely flustered state.

Just moments ago, she had been secretly sulking over Qi Zhi’e’s indifference. But now that Qi Zhie was willing to coax her, Bian You couldn’t even remember why she had been upset in the first place. Her head spun, and her lips curled uncontrollably.

She hadn’t even said she wasn’t angry anymore, but Qi Zhie could clearly see the shift in her mood.

This woman was so easy to appease. A single gentle word from her, and Bian You would be over the moon.

Qi Zhie lowered her gaze slightly. At the very least, this worked in her favor, she didn’t need to put in much effort. If she wanted, she could just crook a finger, and Bian You would come running.

Qi Zhie had always wondered, what kind of upbringing could produce someone as naive and gullible as Bian You? And if she was this easy to fool, how had she managed to avoid being taken advantage of by others before?

“I was a little upset earlier, but not anymore,” Bian You said softly.

Now she wasn’t upset at all in fact, her heart was floating with giddy excitement.

After all, Qi Zhie was willing to coax her!

“That’s good,” Qi Zhie murmured softly.

Though neither spoke again afterward, the atmosphere between them became noticeably lighter. Bian You grabbed Qi Zhi’e’s hand and began playing with it, intertwining their fingers until her face gradually flushed pink.

Qi Zhie’s fingers were long and elegant, the kind that made people assume she played piano.

Bian You didn’t know whether Qi Zhie could play piano, but she certainly played the strings of Bian You’s body with masterful skill.

“Qiqi, can you play piano?” Bian You bit her lip, suppressing her shyness to ask.

“Hmm?” Qi Zhie seemed surprised by the sudden question. At the mention of piano, she grew visibly silent, even slightly dazed.

“W-what’s wrong?” Bian You tensed, worried she’d asked something terribly wrong.

Qi Zhie shook her head. “It’s nothing. I can play.”

In fact, piano had accompanied her through much of her youth, though she’d played less as she grew older.

In the Qi family, piano was considered useless, no matter how talented you were.

Bian You’s eyes lit up. “Then could you play for me sometime?”

Qi Zhie fell silent. She realized Bian You was exceptionally good at seizing opportunities give her an inch, and she’d take a mile.

“Can’t you?” Bian You’s brows drooped pitifully.

Qi Zhie noticed another thing: Bian You excelled at playing the pitiful card to soften hearts. No matter how cold Qi Qi’e’s resolve, that harmless look made refusal difficult.

Frowning slightly, she said, “You!”

“Qiqi! ” The drawn-out syllable dripped with sticky sweetness, like syrup poured straight over her, overwhelmingly saccharine.

Rubbing her temples, Qi Zhie finally relented under the relentless pestering.

How could someone in their twenties speak with such shamelessly cloying sweetness?

Qi Zhie didn’t understand, she only knew Bian You’s skin was far too thick.

Back home, while Qi Zhie showered, Bian You arranged for a piano to be delivered the next day. Despite the spaciousness of Qi Zhi’e’s home, it felt oddly empty with so few belongings.

Though Bian You had gradually filled it since moving in, the hollow feeling lingered.

As bedtime approached, Bian You’s phone buzzed. A document from Mi Yue innocuously titled “bq,” yet Bian You instantly grasped its meaning.

The initials of her and Qi Zhi’e’s surnames?

Mi Yue’s, that kind of story?

Bian You’s face burned strangely red. Shooting a guilty glance at Qi Zhie already lying with her back turned, she quietly rolled over and opened the document.

Not that she actually wanted to read it! She just needed to confirm Mi Yue had used their names before scolding her for these improper, deviant writings.

“Bian You, let’s try something special today?” Qi Zhie was dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers, the collar of her white shirt unbuttoned deeply to reveal three buttons undone, the black lace bra beneath barely containing her soft curves, completely capturing Bian You’s gaze.

Her eyes were entranced, the clear pupils filled with nothing but Qi Zhi’e’s reflection as she murmured her agreement.

No matter how special what she wanted to play was, Bian You would gladly accept it.

A black furry collar was fastened around Bian You’s neck, the soft edges brushing against her slender, sensitive skin, sending a shiver through her body as she looked up at Qi Zhi’e, who stood above her, holding the leash.

She had become the deity who ruled over her, the master who occupied her every thought.

“Master…”

Bian You obediently called out.

A satisfied smile graced Qi Zhi’e’s exquisitely beautiful face as she gently tugged the leash, drawing Bian You closer with each pull.

“Good girl. Dogs don’t wear clothes. Take them off yourself.”

Bian You nuzzled her cheek affectionately against Qi Zhi’e’s abdomen, her voice soft as she asked, “Am I a dog now?”

“Yes, a good dog. Remember to be obedient, understand?”

Bian You grew even more clingy, her entire body radiating submission.

“I’m a good dog. I’ll be obedient.”

…

Bian You abruptly turned off her phone, her face burning as she clutched the device tightly. In the darkness, her eyes glistened unnaturally bright, filled with unmistakable embarrassment.

What on earth was Mi Yue thinking!

How could she write something like this!

Especially portraying her as so submissive! Why was Qi Zhie the dominant one? Why couldn’t it be her!

Wait… this wasn’t even written specifically for her and Qi Zhie. It was adapted from a fanfiction about Su Qinran and the others!

So infuriating!

If she was going to adapt it, why did she have to cast her as the obedient dog role!

Despite her anger, after calming down, Bian You held her breath and listened for any movement from Qi Zhi’e’s side. Assured that she hadn’t noticed anything, she swallowed her shame and quietly unlocked her phone again.

The faint glow of the screen illuminated Bian You’s face in the dark, clearly revealing her ever-changing expressions biting her lip in a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

After finishing, Bian You’s heart pounded wildly. She saved the article in a private folder, then finally put her phone down and lay flat on her back, hands folded neatly over her stomach in an unusually proper posture.

Qi Zhi’e, lying with her back to Bian You, slowly opened her eyes. She had naturally sensed Bian You’s odd behavior today. After all, the Bian You who usually clung to her while sleeping and insisted she face her was unusually quiet tonight.

And…

As someone sharing the same bed, in the silence of the night after the lights were turned off, the slightly rapid breathing from the person beside her became all the more noticeable.

So, what had Bian You been doing earlier?

And… she suspected Bian You was still angry with her. The brooch set she had photographed earlier was taken straight to her original room upon their return, not given to Qi Zhie as initially intended.

Qi Zhie frowned, a wave of irritation rising within her. She was growing tired of this constant need to consider another person’s feelings.

If she was born to be alone and had adapted to solitude, then anyone attempting to intrude and disrupt her peace would only face her malicious rejection.

She felt she could move faster, even faster, to break free from Bian You and return to her own world, enjoying the peace of solitude.

She needed to distance herself from Bian You sooner. Recalling Bian You’s behavior today, she had to admit the girl was somewhat capricious her emotions could swing wildly over a single casual remark.

Qi Zhie wondered if she’d grown foolish from love. If she let herself sink deeper and Bian You couldn’t pull away later, the entanglement would only affect her own life.

Calmly analyzing the pros and cons, Qi Zhie resolved to remove Bian You from her company team as well.

She couldn’t trust that Bian You wouldn’t do something extreme in the future, so she needed to prepare for everything now.

Lost in these thoughts, Qi Zhie barely slept all night. Meanwhile, Bian You, though asleep, dreamed entirely of the fanfiction scenarios Mi Yue had written her mind flooded with images of Qi Zhie calling her a “good puppy” in that aloof, icy voice.

Just that alone was enough to make her heart race.

Was she really an M?

Bian You woke up in a daze.

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